Redchin panchax - Epiplatys dageti dageti

Scientific name: Epiplatys dageti dageti

Common name: Redchin panchax

Family: Nothobranchiidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 5 - 6 cm (1.97 - 2.36 inch)

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Recommended pH range for the species: 6 - 7

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 4 - 12°N (71.43 - 214.29ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 20 - 23 °C (68 - 73.4°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: Africa

Temperament to its own species: peaceful

Temperament toward other fish species: peaceful

Usual place in the tank: Middle levels

Tank requirements

Red-chin panchax stay relatively small and can be kept in tanks starting at 15 gallons (54L). Group size should be at least 6 to prevent stress; try getting a few more females than males to prevent them from being chased around too much. Because these fish reside at the top of the tank, floating plants are much appreciated. In the wild, they are found in calm, dark and overgrown rivers with plenty of vegetation and slightly soft, acidic water. Imitating this in your own aquarium will help them feel at home. In an aquarium setup that’s too light and open, they’ll usually end up huddled together in a corner instead of showing their interesting natural behaviour!

Tank mates

Because red-chin panchax are quite active and become territorial as they age, they can’t be combined with just any fish, especially other surface dwellers. Larger schooling fish, catfish species and dwarf cichlids would make decent tankmate choices.

Lifespan

Up to 5 years, usually less.

Food and feeding

Red-chin panchax are top-feeding predatory killies that will really appreciate live foods such as fruit flies and dwarf shrimp fry. You can also feed them frozen foods like mosquito larvae and most will also take commercial pellet and flake foods.

Behaviour

These killies show very interesting behaviour when kept in a suitable, planted setup. You will see the males courting by flaring their colourful fins, dancing with the females and chasing them and picking fights with other males to protect their territories. They are a joy to watch!

Sexing

If your red-chin panchax are mature and healthy, differentiating between sexes should not be difficult at all. Males are bigger than females, have longer fins with more colour and feature the orange-reddish chin that got these fish their name. You’ll frequently see them chasing females and sparring with each other.

Breeding

Red-chin panchax breed readily in aquariums and you’ll often see fry appearing without even trying. Parents lay eggs on plants. They usually hatch 9 days after being laid. If you’re trying to raise as many fish as possible, the eggs should be separated from the parents. The fry can be fed Artemia salina and eventually microworms. If you decide to keep the fry in the main aquarium, be sure to provide plenty of hiding places in the form of plants.

Notes and credit

When it comes to temperament toward its own species, these fish are peaceful, though males will establish and protect their territories which can involve non-fatal fights.

Temperament toward other fish species is classed as peaceful, though will hunt dwarf shrimp.

Profile was updated on 10^th January 2016 thanks to Aquariadise.com.